Bill > H0867

This bill, titled the "Parent Empowerment Act," aims to increase parental involvement in public education by allowing parents to have more say in their child's school and teachers. Specifically, parents of students in schools designated for "turnaround options" (special interventions for underperforming schools) can petition the school district to implement a specific turnaround option. The bill also mandates that school districts must notify parents if their child is being taught by a teacher who is "out-of-field" (teaching a subject they are not certified in) or has received unsatisfactory performance ratings, and offers parents the option of virtual instruction from a highly effective teacher in such cases. Additionally, it clarifies that faculty at developmental research schools must meet certification requirements and that charter schools must comply with statutes regarding teacher assignments and parent notifications. The bill also repeals a previous statute related to teacher assignments and performance, consolidating these provisions into a new section that emphasizes parental notification and provides for the repeal of the old law.